Shilajit Quality Testing & COA Overview

What Is a COA?

A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document from a laboratory confirming a product has been tested. For shilajit, it should cover:

  • Identity confirmation (is it actually shilajit?)
  • Active compound content (typically fulvic acid)
  • Contaminant testing (heavy metals, microbials)
  • Physical characteristics (appearance, consistency)

Without a COA, you’re selling on trust alone.

Key Tests for Shilajit

Fulvic Acid Content

Fulvic acid is the primary bioactive compound in shilajit. Quality products typically contain 40-60%+ fulvic acid. Lower percentages may indicate dilution or poor source material.

Heavy Metals Testing

Shilajit is sourced from mountain rock formations, meaning potential exposure to heavy metals. Testing should cover lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd).

Results should be within EU limits for food supplements. If a supplier can’t provide heavy metals testing, walk away.

Microbial Testing

Standard food safety testing: total aerobic count, yeast and mold, E. coli, salmonella, coliforms. Confirms the product is safe and was processed under sanitary conditions.

Identity Testing

Confirms the substance is actually shilajit and not a substitute or adulterant. Methods include FTIR spectroscopy or characteristic compound analysis.

What a Good COA Looks Like

A legitimate COA includes:

  • Laboratory name and accreditation
  • Date of testing
  • Batch/lot number tested
  • Tests performed with methods listed
  • Results with units and reference limits
  • Pass/fail status for each parameter
  • Signature or authorization

Red flags:

  • No lab name or accreditation number
  • No batch number
  • Results without units or reference ranges
  • Document looks homemade
  • Supplier won’t provide it per batch

Per-Batch vs Generic COAs

Per-batch COA: Testing performed on the specific batch you’re buying. This is what you want.

Generic COA: A sample was tested at some point, and the supplier assumes all future batches are similar. Not reliable.

Always ask: “Is this COA for the batch I’m ordering?”

Third-Party vs In-House Testing

Third-party testing: Independent laboratory with no financial stake in the result. More credible.

In-house testing: Supplier tests their own product. Conflict of interest. Less credible.

Reputable suppliers use accredited third-party labs. Ask for the lab’s name and accreditation.

→ See how testing fits into the shilajit supply chain.

EU-Specific Considerations

For products sold as food supplements in the EU, contaminant limits are set by regulation. Heavy metals must be below established thresholds.

Beyond contaminants, EU regulations require product notification (where applicable), compliant labeling, and traceability from source to shelf.

A COA supports these requirements but doesn’t replace them.

→ Learn about EU food supplement classification for shilajit.

What to Ask Your Supplier

Before ordering:

  1. Do you provide a COA per batch?
  2. Which laboratory do you use? Are they accredited?
  3. What parameters do you test for?
  4. Can I see a sample COA?
  5. What are your limits for heavy metals?
  6. How do you handle batches that fail testing?

Serious suppliers answer these immediately. Evasive answers = red flag.

→ Request wholesale information | Back to shilajit supplier in Europe